Apparatus for transferring liquids



S. T. ADAIR AND H. C. FYANS. APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 8, 1916.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

amuewtow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY T. ADAIR AND C. FYANS, 015 AU SABLE FORKS, NEW YORK; CATHERINEFYANS ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID HUGH C. FYANS, DECEASED. I

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS.

Application filed November 8, 1916. Serial No. 130,302.

To all 1072,0772 it may concern:

Be it known that we, SIDNEY T. ADAIR and HUGH C. FYANS, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Au Sable Forks, in the county of Essex andState of New York,

have invented certain new and useful 1m rovements 1n Apparatus forTransferring lqulds; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use thesame.

This invention relates to apparatus for transferring liquids; and it hasfor its object broadly the provision ofapparatus where by transfer ofliquid from a container to a place of discharge can be effected easilyand systematically. A further and more specific object of the inventionis to facilitate removal .of liquid by gravity from a chamber or vesselin which it is maintained under more or less complete vacuum. Theinvention has a broad field of usefulness; but it is of especial valuewhen embodled in vacuum evaporator systems, and such an application ofthe invention will therefore be hereinafter more particularly explainedand described for the sake of aconcrete example.

A system embodying the principles of the invention comprises a liquidcontainer, such as an evaporating pan or effect, and one or morereceivers into which liquid from the container may flow under suitableconditions. In the most desirable form of the invention, two receiversare used and are arranged to work in alternation, one receiver fillingwith liquid from the container, while the other discharges to anyconvenient place liquid previously received from the con-,

tainer. Admission of liquid to the receivers and discharge therefrom iscontrolled, most desirably by automatic means, in such manner as toeffect the aforesaid modeof opera-- tion. Provision is also made toinsure. free discharge from each receiver when that receiver is indischarge phase.

By way of illustrative example, atypical installation or systemembodying the principles of the invention is shown ire-the accompanyingdrawing. This drawing, which is mainly diagrammatic in character, 1llustrates the apparatus in elevation, certain parts bein shown broken awayand 1n section. In 't 1e drawing, 1 represents a container for liquid,such as an evaporator effect, adapted to maintain liquid under re-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

duced pressure. This container is connected by 'a main outflow pipe 2,having branches 3 and 4, to receivers 5 and (i which are located at alevel below that of the container 1. Discharge pipes 7 and o lead fromthe respective receivers to a common discharge as at 9.

Pipes 3 and at are'provided, respectively, with valves 10 and 11. whilepipes 7 and 8 are similarly valved at 12 and 13 respectively. The valves10, 11, 12 and 13 are here shown as diaphragm valves of a well knowntype in which fluid pressure on the diaphragm tends to move the valvestem in one direction, downwardly in this instance, against the actionof a spring or other resilientmeans normally tending to move thevalve'stem in the opposite direction. It will be noticed that valves 10and 13 seat upon downward movement of the valve stem, while 11 and 12 onthe contrary are unseated by downward movement of the valve stem.

Means should be provided for admitting a pressure medium to each of thereceiver tanks 5 and 6 when either of them is discharging, so that freedischarge may not be hindered by formation of a partial vacuum above thesurface of the liquid. This could be accomplished simply by venting thetanks to atmosphere at the proper time, but where the system includes avacuum evaporator, it is more desirable to admit steam into thereceivers for this purpose as will be hereinafter more fully explained.v

To this end the installation here illustrated includes a low pressuresteam line 14 supplied from anysuitable source ofsteam supply (notshown), said steam line beinp connected with receiver 5 by way ofdiaphragm valve 15, and with receiver 6 by way of a similar valve 16.Valves 15 and 16 are of the same general type and operate insubstantially the same way as valves 10-13 previously described. It willbe seen that fluid pressure on the diaphragm of valve 15 tends to unseatthe valve, while pressure on the diaphragm of valve 16 seats the valve.

The valve system above. described is auto matically controlled andoperated in the present example by rise and fall of the liquid level inone of the receivers. The diaphragm chamber of each of the valves isconnected to a compressed air line 17 to which air is supplied at say 15pounds presreducing valve 19 from a suitable compressor or other sourceof supply (not shown). The controlling valve 18 is operable uponsuitable actuation, either to connect the line 17 to the source ofsupply, or to cut off the sup ly of compressed air from the line 17.Miichanism for accomplishing this automatically at proper times is hereshown as comprising an arm 20 having its end slotted to engage the endof an arm 21 of a vertical rod 22, which latter is pivotally 22 upwardlyand opens communication between the compressed air supply and line 17.Suitable means (not shown) may be provided to prevent downward movementof the operating .rod 22 until the float. has descended sufficiently tostrike lever 24.

The operation of the complete apparatus is as follows. Assuming theparts to be in the positions shown, with the float in its lowermostposition, receiver 5 has just finished discharging while receiver 6 hasjust finished filling. The float 25 has just pushed lever 24 down sothat the air line 17 is cut off from the compressed air supply and thereis no pressure (above atmospheric) on The diathe various valvediaphragms.

phragm valves are all in the positions into which their controllingsprings normally tend to move them. Thus valve 10 is open, and Valves 12and 15 are closed, while valve 11 is closed and valves 13 and 16 areopen. Liquid now flows from the container or effeet 1 into the receiver5, while receiver 6 discharges its contents through 8 to 9, thisdischarge being free by reason of the admission of steam through valve16. The admission of air to insure free discharge is ordinarilydisadvantageous since it would ultimately find its way into the effect.The use of steam, which may be simply exhaust steam, is especiallyadvantageous in that when the contents of the receiver are completelydischarged and liquid has begun to enter again through container 1, thesteam condenses in large measure, the pressure in the receiver and theeifect being thus partially or wholly equalized, and the free flow ofliquid from the container into the receiver being thus facilitated.

When the receiver 5 has been filled to a predetermined sufficientextent, the float 25 attains its upper position, indicated in dottedhues, and actuates the controlling valve 18 to connect the line 17 topressure, whereupon the various diaphragm valves assume positionsrespectively opposite to those shown in the drawing. Receiver 5 is nowcut 011 from container 1 and is open to discharge and to the steamsupply; while receiver fi, being now empty, is closed to discharge andto the steam line, and is open to the container. Receiving tank 5 nowdischarges, the float 25 continuing to descend until it strikes thelever 24 and throws it down into the position shown, thus completing acycle of operations. Tank 5 now fills while tank 6 discharges, and soon, .thetwo receivers thus continuing to work in alternation. Liquid maythus flow substantially without interruption from the container 1 intoone the combination, with a vacuum evaporator,

of a pair of closed receivers located at a lower level than said vacuumpan, pipes for conducting liquid by gravity from said vacuum pan to saidreceivers, admission valves in said pipes, discharge pipes leading fromsaid receivers, valves in said discharge pipes, a source of low pressuresteam supply connected to said receivers, valves controlling admissionof steam to the receivers, and float-controlled mechanism arranged tooperate all the said valves periodically, the arrangeme'nt being suchthat while one re ceiver is filling the other is discharging, and steamis admitted to each receiver only while such receiver is discharging.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with acontainer adapted to maintain liquid under reduced pressure, of a pairof receivers connected thereto for gravity flow of liquid; from .saidcontainer, each receiver being adapted to receive liquid from thecontainer and to discharge liquid so received, valve means forcontrolling flow to and from said receivers, and mechanism governingsaid valve means whereby the receivers can be worked in alternation, onefilling while the other discharges.

' 3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with acontainer. adapted to maintain liquid under reduced pressure, of a pairof receivers connected thereto for gravity flow of liquid from saidcontainer, each receiver being adapted to receive liquid from thecontainer and to discharge liquid so received, valve means forcontrolling flow to and from said receivers,liquid-level-controlledmechanism arranged to operate said valve means sothat said receivers work in alternation, one filling While the otherdischarges.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with acontainer adapted to maintain liquid under reduced pressure, of a pairof receivers located at a level below that of the container, valvedpiping connecting both receivers to the container, valved pipingconnecting both receivers to a common discharge, a source of steamsupply, valved piping connecting each receiver thereto, andvalve-operating means whereby all the valves of the system may beoperated simultaneously and in such manner that one receiver is open tothe container and closed to discharge and to steam, while the other isclosed to the container and open to discharge and to steam.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with avacuum evaporator, of a pair of closed receivers located at a levelbelow that of the evaporator, valved piping for conducting liquid fromthe evaporator to the receivers, a valved discharge for each receiver,valved steam-admission means for each receiver. and float-controlledvalveoperating mechanism governing the system in such manner that whileone receiver is being fllled, the other is discharging and steam isbeing admitted thereinto, the receivers working in alternation.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with avacuum evaporator, of a closed receiver located at a lower level thanthe vacuum pan and provided with an inlet and an outlet, conduit meansfor gravity flow of liquid from said vacuum pan to the receiver inlet,valves controlling liquid flow to said inlet and from said outlet,respectively, valve-operating mechanism arranged to open such inletvalve and close such outlet valve when the liquid level in the receiverreaches a predetermined minimum, and to reverse said valves anddischarge the receiver contents when the liquid level in the receiverhas reached a predetermined maximum, and means for admitting a pressuremedium to the receiver during such discharge.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with avacuum evaporator, of a closed receiver located at a lower level thanthe vacuum pan and provided with an inlet and an outlet, conduit meansfor gravity flow of liquid from said vacuum pan to the receiver inlet,valves controlling liquid flow to said inlet and from said outlet,respectively, valve-operating mechanism arranged to open such inletvalve and close such outlet valve when the liquid'level in the receiverreaches a predetermined minimum, and to reverse said valves anddischarge the receiver contents when the liquid level in the receiverhas reached apredetermined maximum, and means for admitting steam to thereceiver during such discharge, such admission means being controlled bysaid valve-operating mechanism.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with avacuum evaporator, of a closed receiving tank havlng an inlet connectedto said evaporator for flow of liquid therefrom and provided with adischarge outlet, valves controlling said inlet and outlet,respectively, and valveoperating mechanism controlled by the height ofliquid in said receiving tank, said mechanism being arranged to open theinlet valve and close the outlet valve at a predetermined minimum liquidlevel, and to reverse said valves at a predetermined maximum liquidlevel.

In apparatus of the character described, the combination, with acontainer for liquids, of a receptacle having an inlet connected to saidcontainer for flow of liquid therefrom by gravity and provided with adischarge outlet, valves controlling said inlet and outlet,respectively, a source of fluid pressure, and valve-operating mechanismcontrolled by the height of liquid in said receptacle, said mechanismbeing arranged to apply fluid pressure from said source to open theinlet valve and close the outlet valve at a predetermined minimum liquidlevel, and to apply fluid pressure from 100 sai source to reverse saidvalves at a predetermined maximum liquid level.

10. The combination, with a source of liquid supply, or" a pair ofreceivers connected thereto and provided with discharge 105 outlets,valves respectively controlling flow of liquid from said source to saidreceivers and discharge of liquid therefrom, and fluid pressure meansconnected to all said valves and operable by change in liquid level to110 actuate them simultaneously to admit liquid from said source to onereceiver and to discharge liquid from the. other.

11. The combination, with a source of liquid supply, of a pair ofreceivers connected 115 thereto and provided with discharge outlets,diaphragm valves respectively controlling flow of liquid to and fromsaid receivers and normally occupying positions such that one receiveris in communication with said 120 source but is closed to discharge,while the other receiver? is cut ofl from the receiver but open todischarge, a compressed air supply, and float controlled means arranged,upon predetermined change of liquid level 125 in one of said receivers,to place the compressed air supply in communication with all saiddiaphragm valves and thereby to reverse their relative positions, andsubsequently upon another predetermined change 0 in liquid level, torelease the air pressure on said diaphragm valves, thereby restoringthem to their original positions.

12. The combination, with a source of liquid supply, of a pair ofreceivers each having an intake connected to said source and each havinga discharge outlet, valves controlling flow through said intakes andoutlets, valve actuating means, including a compressed air supply, andfloat controlled mechanism cooperating with said valve actuating means,upon attainment of a predetermined liquid level in one of the receivers,to shift all said valves simultaneously and thereby to connect onereceiver to said source and close its discharge outlet While .alternatefilling and discharging of said receivers occurs.

In testlmony whereof We hereunto afiix our signatures.

SIDNEY T. ADAIR. HUGH C. FYANS. Witnesses:

RICHARD L. TRUMBULL, 7 WM. BRUNNER.

